Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

3 min read

What is an EPC?

An EPC ranks the energy efficiency of a property from A (very efficient) to G (not very efficient). Your rental property much have an EPC.

The certificate is accompanied by recommendations on how to improve energy efficiency.

If the property has an E rating or higher, you can choose whether to have these improvements carried out or not. However, if the property has an F or G rating then you will need to carry out the requirements to bring it up to an E rating, or spend £3500 on suitable improvements to qualify for an exemption from the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards.

How to get an EPC

An EPC must be issued by a qualified and accredited assessor in an independent manner.

The energy assessor will need access to all parts of the property to carry out their assessment. This will include:

• inspecting heating systems and controls
• taking measurements and photographs of all key data contained in the survey

The survey is a visual inspection.

How long does an EPC last?

Once issued the EPC is valid for 10 years.

It can be used time and time again during this period.

You do not have to have a new EPC even if you have work carried out to the property. You can obtain a new one after work has been done.

It is best practice to make sure that you keep your EPC up to date.

What you need to do before letting a property

As a landlord you must:

• Commission and obtain an EPC from a registered assessor unless one is already available
• Make a copy of the EPC available to any prospective tenant free of charge
• Give the tenant a copy of the EPC before they sign the tenancy agreement (again free of charge). This applies even if they have already seen it
• Prospective tenants must be shown a complete copy of the EPC including the recommendation report
• Ensure that any advertisements for the property contain the energy rating of the property
• Ensure they are complying with the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards